Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington are two naval officers who must vie for control of an American sub. At stake: the fate of the world! The film’s central conflict relies on a rather strange premise: Chechen rebels have seized control of Russian subs and threaten nuclear apocalypse. (Is this what the public really thought would happen?) With the strong ensemble, slick direction from Tony Scott, and the fact that Tarantino himself was hired to jazz up the script (hence the Silver Surfer references) this movie should have been better. Watchable.

NB: I just find it really hard to avoid watching random 90’s Hollywood movies when they’re a click away. Some prove to be great (Jackie Brown, The Cable Guy) others are fun and nostalgic (Searching for Bobby Fischer, Can’t Hardly Wait) but almost all have surprises in the cast. Crimson Tide, for instance, has Vigo Mortensen, James Gandolfini, Steve Zahn, and Jason Robards! Amazing.